'Tis the Season

Hi friends, it's been a while! No energy to explain where I've been and no promises about where I'll go :). But for today some pictures of favorite things/moments this Christmas.

First of all, bought this:


(Haven't yet decided exactly what to use it for. It's filled w/brown paper pages. and I just love it!)

Here:



Then saw this:



And this:



With him:


Saw lots of these:

(Christmas Lights captured by the resident photographer...age 5.)

With him:



And her:



Found this fun ivy topiary on my doorstep from a sweet, new friend:



Made one of these:



With this crew:



Went to church on Christmas Eve with my parents:



Home for dinner and Christmas PJ's:





Looking at pictures w/my mom:



And the grand finale of Christmas Morning!! :)





The Maestro


The Accessory Girl




SOOO excited about her box of shoes from brother:



And SOOO excited to be able to surprise Daddy with a TV:


(In case you can't tell, that's a flying leap, fueled by excitement, into Dad's arms)

Friday Night Flicks

I realized last night that we have developed a little Friday night ritual the past few months. Around 5pm on Fridays, either Hubby or I text or e-mail with a simple message, "Dinner in or out?". We usually opt for "out" since it IS Friday after all. Then we decide where, I load up the kids and meet Daddy at the restaurant of choice for dinner. After eating, he sweetly offers to take the kiddos home in HIS car to give me a few minutes of quiet because, once again, it IS Friday after all. :) And, at this stage in life, a few minutes of quiet at the end of the week is an incredibly valuable and greatly appreciated gift! On my quiet drive home I stop off at Red Box or Blockbuster Express and pick up a movie. By the time I get home Dad has gotten bedtime underway and I help finish that off. After the littles are tucked into their beds we climb into ours and pop that night's movie selection into the DVD. Big, huge, S-I-G-H.
If you know much about Red Box or BBE, you know the selection isn't always the greatest. So we've been branching out a bit to try movies we wouldn't otherwise select. To our surprise, we've hit three for three the past few weeks!
Loved 'em!


Dear, John


Did You Hear About the Morgans?


My Sister's Keeper

Lately, I've realized just how much a few routines in life can ground me and keep me filled up. I'm a planner but a loose one. I like to have a few things in place to give my weeks and days some structure but do not like everyday planned out with no freedom for variety or flexibility (that drains the life right out of me!). It's a tricky balance to strike sometimes. But I was amazed this morning when I woke up feeling like I'd had a shot of life from our little Friday night routine. Although I love the freedom of Summer and thoroughly enjoy some days with no agenda I realize it begins to wear on me about Month #2 (that would be NOW for those of you not counting! :)) and I begin to long for more routine. This is the time I need to guard some of my lifegiving routines the most...early mornings with my coffee, Bible and journal; quiet room time for all (including Mommy!) a couple of afternoons each week; a phone conversation or coffee with a friend; a good DVR'd show or two along the way; a good long walk or bike ride. I'm so thankful for the little ways God refreshes me along the way. Ways that seemingly have nothing to do with Him but in my heart I know those little gifts come straight from His hand just for me...even Friday Night Flicks! :)

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights..." James 1:17 (NASB).

Delicious Summer Supper

Last week I tried this new recipe and it was DElicious so I thought I'd share. I THINK it came from a Rachel Ray Cookbook...30 Minute Meals, maybe? Last September I had the privilege of making a trip to VA and NC to see two dear friends, who both happen to be terrific cooks! I was in a cooking slump, myself, so as I lounged at their homes kid free I perused THEIR recipes and cookbooks and brought some fresh ideas home. That's where this one came from. Handwritten on Laura's Cape Cod picturesque notepad paper. :) As a slight and random tangent...I am MUCH more motivated to cook from a handwritten recipe or a cookbook w/stained pages. But back to the point. I served this last week on a bed of Spring Mix with a side of garlic bread and finished off the meal with strawberries and whipped cream for dessert. It was a perfect summer supper so I thought I'd share!


Chicken Caprese Salad

4 pieces boneless chicken breast
2 to 3 tsp Balsamic vinegar
8 slices firm tomato
8 leaves fresh basil
8 slices fresh mozarella
Extra virgin Olive oil
Black pepper and Kosher salt

Heat griddle pan over med. heat. Rub chicken w/Balsamic vinegar to tenderize. Cook chicken 4min. on each side. Splash pan with a little water and rub chicken around to pick up flavor and color from the pan. Remove from heat and let stand for 5min. to room temperature. Top with layer of tomato, basil, and mozzarella, using 2 pieces of each. Drizzle entire dish w/Olive oil (I drizzled w/more Balsamic vinegar as well). Top w/black pepper and salt to taste. Serves up to 4.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Silvery white winters that melt into spring...these are a few of my faavvvooorite things!! Oh wait, I'm not Julie Andrews and this isn't The Sound of Music (although that IS one of my all time favorite things), but today I wanted to share some of MY favorite things lately:

1. My new skincare system from Philosophy. I tried not to be offended when I went into Sephora and mentioned that I was looking for something because I need a little more from my skincare products and the sales associate quickly replied with her perky 20-something self:), "Oh something for anti-AGING?". To which I kindly replied, "Yes.". I have very sensitive skin and have unsuccessfully tried LOADS of different products but she proceeded to tell me how wonderful Philosophy products are and of their generous return policy. So, I took the plunge and to my surprise have been most pleased, especially with the When Hope is Not Enough serum and the free sample of Eye Hope eye cream. I bought the following set and saved almost 50%!!


2. My new earrings from my sweet mother in law. She wanted to get me a special gift when my daughter was born but wanted me to pick it out. We kept trying, to no avail, to find some time to go shopping for a piece of jewelry for me. That was a year and a half ago. I was thrilled a few weeks ago when she surprised me with these. I had purchased some fake ones a while back and was ecstatic to have the real deal. Now I wear them ALL the time...even sleep in them which I have never been a fan of. But I L-O-V-E them and found it so thoughtful of her to surprise me.


The best part about these earrings is that you can add little charms. My MIL generously included a pair in the gift. I toss them on when I want to dress the earrings up a little more. There are loads of options for charms but I thought these were perfect for me.



3. Next up is the Lemongrass Sage Salt Scrub, Bar soap and Shea Butter lotion I picked up at Big Cedar Lodge on our vacation last month. Love it! Love using it, love the smell, love how nourished my skin feels after using it.



4. And lastly, the little surprise I received yesterday from my sweet husband...a just because gift that he knew I'd been wanting for a while. A monogrammed soap dispenser for the guest bathroom which so happens to be the one WE most often use as it's between the kitchen, laundry room and office...the three places we spend most of our time during the day!

Summer Lovin'

Ok, so yesterday Grease, the movie, was re-released on the big screen in a few select cities (mine included). And I have to say I can just hardly contain my excitement! I so clearly remember going to the theater to see it in 1978 with my mom and sister and heading to Wal-mart afterwards to buy the EIGHT TRACK!!, yes, the eight track, folks. (We won't even get into why in the world I was allowed to see that movie at 7yrs. old!!!). I also vividly remember wearing a mustard gold T-shirt with this picture:


plastered on the front of it for picture day in 2nd grade. (It may have been for my "reflection picture". Anyone remember those? The picture of yourself and then a creepy version of yourself up in the corner staring down at the original pic?!? Whose idea was that anyway?!? Eeek!). I digress. I'm DYING to see this on the big screen before it leaves in two weeks but must find a movie companion who will appreciate it as much as I do...and singing along to Summer Lovin' is a MUST! ;) Any takers?!?

Convicted

Maybe there was some question in my last post about being addicted but there's no doubt about it, I am convicted. Deeply convicted. For the past three summers I have gathered with several girls from church, whose paths I wouldn't otherwise cross, to study the Bible together. It's so interesting that I don't really know a ton about these women but I do know their hearts and that creates a unique bond and connection that is difficult to describe. Nonetheless, this summer we are studying Linda Dillow's book, Calm My Anxious Heart. When we decided on this book I thought it sounded good but really had no idea what it was all about. But let me just tell you, these past few weeks I've been blown away each time I've cracked open that book. God is convicting me. And hopefully changing me. Last week the chapter was Content to Be Me. The focus and scripture memory were based on several verses in Psalm 139. I've read, and even memorized, vs. 13-14 hundreds of times but this week it struck me like never before. "For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.". In the discussion questions she challenged us to read it every day out loud and pray it back to God. It's amazing to really meditate on those verses and think about what it means. He made every little part of me. Just how HE wants ME to be. Perfectly for the purpose he has for me. Something Linda Dillow wrote struck me hard. She said, "ALL of your abilities...and your DISabilities...were created to fit the unique plan God has for you.". For the most part, I like how God has created me and am ok with my personality, abilities and talents. BUT where I struggle is often feeling like I need to be MORE than that. I've shared a little about my perfectionistic tendencies and I think this is a place it rears it's ugly head. I typically feel ok with who I am and what I'm up to. But as I fight the messages the world sends us to have it all and BE it all, I am tempted to look around and see what others are doing and feel like I just don't quite measure up. Pondering the things in this chapter has freed me up so much. I don't need to be MORE, I need to be exactly who He has created me to be. And not only that but I want to be like David and even PRAISE Him for who He's made me to be...my abilities and my disabilities. I think of His other works (the mountains, the ocean, my children) and find it so easy to praise Him for those works but find it harder to praise Him for the work of creating me. As I read that passage and prayed for fresh insight, all I felt was sweet, tender conviction that I can breathe easy and rest in who He's made me to be. And a gentle reminder that He takes it very personally when I am down on myself for not being something He never intended me to be. Verse 16 has always brought great comfort to me and even now brings excitement to my heart. It says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." It is exciting to think that He has already written what He has for me today, tomorrow and the next. It almost feels like a gift waiting to be opened and enjoyed. I just need to make sure I'm opening the gift that has MY name on it.

Addicted?

So, I realized this week that I'm addicted. Addicted to my morning coffee. It hit me one afternoon when I had a SPLITTING headache for no apparent reason. It went something like this in my head..."I DIDN"T HAVE MY COFFEE THIS MORNING!! THAT's why I have an awful headache. Oh, great, that means I'm addicted again. But, oh well, who cares? There are worse things to be addicted to. And I thoroughly enjoy my creamy, sweet morning coffee.:)" I go through phases of drinking coffee every day, then laying off, then picking it back up. I've always been more of "social" coffee drinker but have enjoyed it more frequently the past few years, especially the last
1 1/2 after my sweet girl was born. I think there's something about the ritual of it, too. Nonetheless, it got me thinking about what else I'm "addicted" to these days. Here's my list:

1. My cup (or two)of French Roast with a generous amount of Hazelnut cream.

2. Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series. I know, I know, I'm way behind but I am not a fan of starting something that's such a commitment from the get go so I've waited on picking them up. BUT I'm hooked...catching every moment I can to curl up somewhere and find out what's going on with the Baxters. I'm only part way in to Remember (book 2)but am even wondering this minute when I'll be able to steal some time today.

3. Lundberg's Brown Rice cakes...toasted (said in the same tone as "buttered" or "layered" for those of you that that would mean anything to) and topped with one slice of provolone and two slices of turkey or with crunchy peanut butter and raisins. DElicious!

4. Words with Friends pass and play with Hubby on the iTouch. We've always been big fans of Scrabble...we have regular Scrabble, Deluxe Scrabble w/the swivel board!, travel Scrabble and now WWF. We've often taken our Travel Scrabble on dates if it's to a coffee shop or laid back sit and linger type place (yes, I do realize we sound like we're about 85 years old but hey we like it. :)). BUT now that it's on the iTouch we play a lot more and have loads of fun!

5. Last but certainly not least is my beloved Sonic Happy Hour!! I've loved it for years but have found myself drawn there probably 2-3X each week lately and find myself considering how to get there by 4pm the other days :). Little guy now calls the front passenger seat his "Sonic Seat"...that tells you how often we go there. An Ocean Water or a Lemon Berry Slush are my Happy Hour faves. And a large ice water w/lime is my anytime fave...the combination of that ice and styrofoam cup can't be beat! ;)

Ok, so maybe more little pleasures than addictions. Nonetheless, what about you, what little things do you look forward to in your day? Do tell! You wouldn't want to leave me alone in my addiction now would you?

A Confession

Ok, so here I am a grown woman whose favorite movie as of late is geared toward an 8 to 10 year old girl! Not sure what that says about me...pretty sure that I don't care. :) But on our vacation a couple of weeks ago we borrowed the American Girl movie, Kit Kittredge, from guest services. Over the course of our time there we watched it a couple times, acted it out more than that and discussed it during dinner on several occasions. So what do I love about it so much? I love that our whole family can watch and enjoy it together. I love the values of friendship, loyalty, contentment, determination and honesty that it portrays. I love how it highlights believing the best in others, enduring hardship with an attitude of hopefulness, not to mention the persistence, courage and bravery of the central character. I love that it is realistic and shows some real hardships and difficult things yet it shows different ways people can choose to deal with that. This little movie has prompted several great discussions with my son about character, integrity and attitude. So, as you can imagine I was more than happy to spend the $6 at TJMaxx to purchase the movie (I'd been too cheap...um, I mean thrifty...to buy it for more at other places but was delighted to stumble upon it when buying a Father's Day gift at the bargain store). Oh, it also has a great cast! Julia Ormond, Chris O'Donnell, Stanley Tucci and Joan Cusack, who never fails to entertain me. :) So, if you haven't seen it and need some entertainment that's out of the heat it's 100 minutes I don't think you'll regret. If you don't share my appreciation for it, at the very least you can grab a few winks. ;)

First Fruits...

...and Veggies from the food co-op, Urban Acres, we joined a couple weeks ago! We skipped what would've been our first pick up because we were leaving town a few days later so we picked up our first bin of produce today. I love knowing the food is grown locally and most likely tended to by hard working people. Not to mention, it just tastes better! Having grown up with a grandfather and great grandfather who were amazing gardeners makes me appreciate the hard work that goes into growing delicious and nutritious produce. Some of my favorite meals were created from only what came out of the garden. Large, vine ripe, juicy tomatoes sliced thick with a little salt sprinkled on them. Purple hull peas picked and canned right away. My grandmother cans peas like nobody's business and they are DElish...some of you have shared in her delectable talent with me over the years. :) Okra, squash and zucchini always served with a side of my grandmother's corn bread and some iced tea. You can't get a better meal than that!
Off to see what I can create with my bin of treasures...

Day 30

So, day thirty of my 30/30 Challenge came and went over the weekend. It was rather anti-climatic. But I did want to let you all know after my last post about wanting to quit, I ended up getting back on the horse. I think just voicing my waning desire gave me the much needed boost of motivation I was missing. I did skip another day or so here and there which would normally tempt me to see the whole thing as a failure. However, I'm learning that less than perfection does not equal failure. This challenge not only accomplished the purpose of getting me back into a more consistent exercise routine but helped me grapple with this whole perfectionistic mindset I tend to have about certain areas of my life. A mindset that very often leaves me FEELING like I'm coming up short and robs me of so much joy along the way. If I throw out or discount everything in my life that isn't done perfectly, well, that's about 99.9% of my life, folks! So, although it's been difficult for me to consider this a success because I didn't do it perfectly I will take the liberty to declare it a success nonetheless.
Baby steps, right? :)

Seasons of Change

This week my first born will finish up his last days as a pre-schooler. There have been days in this journey where I wasn't sure I'd make it to the end of the day much less to a milestone such as this. But now that it's here all those long days seem to have gone in a flash.
My intense feelings about this season ending have caught me by surprise. And honestly, I didn't even know they were there until a friend with school aged children mentioned that she felt like she went through a time of mourning. Mourning? That sounds like a strong and somber word but I realized that it fit. Now, mixed in with those sad feelings are feelings of excitement and anticipation for this new chapter in life. But although this is an exciting change it is also the end of an era. The last days of having both my little chicks in "the nest". It is a time of reflecting and a time of wondering. Have I maximized these days? Have I prepared him for the realities of what he'll encounter out there in the big world of kindergarten ;)? I know it's not like he's leaving home for good, although that'll be here soon enough! But why doesn't anyone forewarn us that when these little marvelous creatures enter our world they will also nestle into our hearts in ways that bring joy beyond belief and have a way of breaking your heart to that same degree? As a mother there is forever the tension of holding them close enough for them to feel safe and cared for yet keeping our hands open enough for their little wings to spread at the appropriate times and grow into the person God intends them to be. I know intellectually that our journey as parents is to grow them into independent, functioning adults but no one ever told me of the wear and tear on a mother's heart in the process! From the moment they are born we really start letting them go in small ways and as time goes on that process of letting go comes with higher stakes. It has just caught me by surprise at how very deeply this little fellow has woven himself into my heart thus increasing the difficulty of letting him go even in the smallest of ways. It is the very natural order of things and I know I have a long way to go before he's out of the nest for good but I sure feel a lot like that mama bird who shoves her baby out of the nest for the first time so he can learn to fly. She knows there is a great chance she'll have to watch him flail and struggle as he learns but desperately hopes he'll learn to fly with ease and little struggle at all. Either way, the knowledge of the ensuing joy she'll know as she watches him spread those little wings and fly on his own keeps her focused. Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. There is a time to mourn and a time to dance.". So as one season in life comes to an end and makes way for a new one, I will remind myself that it's ok to mourn...there is a time for that. And that, soon enough, my heart will be dancing and celebrating the very thing my heart had to mourn.

I Want to QUIT!!!

Ok, so this is the point in my 30/30 Challenge where I want to throw in the towel. The place where had I not mentioned it to you all I'd decide it was a dumb idea and bag the whole thing. I am tired. For a variety of reasons just tired to the core. I missed a day of exercise the other day simply because I genuinely could not muster the energy to do it. There have been quite a few days in this little journey that I've not wanted to push myself but dug deep and did it anyway. But that particular day it just wasn't happening. Because this is simply a way to get me back into my rhythym of a consistent exercise routine and not about being legalistic I cut myself some slack. BUT today I just want to QUIT!!! Let's just say those aspirations of turning the love/hate thing around are quickly fading. :) Now I know this little personal challenge, in the big scheme of life, is insignificant but can you share any ways you've persevered when you wanted to call it quits?

Silence

"Cease striving and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10


Noise and words and frenzied, hectic schedules dull our senses, closing our ears to His still, small voice and making us numb to His touch.

We are commanded to stop (literally)...rest, relax, let go, and make time for Him.

The scene is one of stillness and quietness, listening and waiting before Him. Such foreign experiences in these busy times! Nevertheless, knowing God deeply and intimately requires such discipline.

Silence is indispensable if we hope to add depth to our spiritual life.

Above excerpts taken from Intimacy with the Almighty by Chuck Swindoll

30 for 30 Challenge

Exercise + Me = Love/Hate relationship. I love how I feel AFTER exercising, love the rejuvenation my body feels, the clarity my mind experiences and the feeling of accomplishment I get from doing it. But for some reason I still hate that initial getting to the gym and even the actual process of exercising. I wish I lived in a way that more exercise was incorporated into my lifestyle. Maybe I should move to the mountains! I love to hike, bike, canoe, etc. where there is much enjoyment along the way and doesn't feel so much like exercise. But since that's not the case guess I'd better come up with another plan, huh?
I've exercised most of my adult life on a fairly consistent basis but definitely go in and out of HOW consistently I do it. I"m more of an event kind of person...would much rather cook for an occasion than for every night, am far more motivated by an end in sight and something to work toward than just doing something for the sake of doing it. Do you see how this presents a problem when it comes to exercising? And honestly up to this point in life my body stayed the same whether I exercised or not. Unfortunately, with a significant birthday coming up next year that is no longer the case. And although I'm not completely unhappy with my appearance I do wonder if I'm the best I can be (within reason, of course).
As a way to challenge myself and get me back into a more consistent routine with my exercise I've decided to do a 30 for 30 Challenge. Sounds official, huh? Actually I just made it up! :) I've decided that I will do some type of exercise at least 30minutes a day for 30 consecutive days (May1st-30th) and just see what happens. I'm telling y'all so I don't secretly wimp out and tell myself it was a dumb idea in the first place and quietly bail. :) And at the end of all this I want to have someone to celebrate with if I actually succeed! I'm not counting on the love/hate thing to dissipate but one can dream, right?

Seven Year Itch or Seven Years Rich?

This week I was listening to a local Christian talk radio show and the topic was the Seven Year Itch in marriage. It caught my attention because just around the corner Andy and I will celebrate our 7th Anniversary. For some reason, this seems like a significant milestone. Maybe because of the very saying titled in the message I heard. I found it interesting as I listened to a husband and wife of thirty plus years talk about how often, around year seven, disillusionment sets in for at least one of the spouses in a marriage. In this particular case, it was the wife. She described her feelings of uncertainty. She expressed her thoughts as she wondered what in the world she'd done and who was this strange man she was sleeping next to. She discussed her fears of "what if?"...what if this man finds out who I really am? And worse, what if he finds out and DOESN'T like me? I found her candid dialogue so interesting and refreshing. And honestly, I could completely identify with much of what she was saying. Except for the fact that those thoughts and feelings occured for me much earlier in my marriage and quite frankly took me and us down a fairly rocky road because of it. But God, in his overwhelming grace, brought us through that. Not without battle scars and deep wounds but with those have come a depth and a security in our marriage that I wonder if we would have ever found otherwise. In our wedding vows, I "received Andy as God's perfect provision for me". As a starry eyed bride I probably had different ideas of what that perfect provision looked like. But as a lightly seasoned wife, there are no words to express how deeply grateful I am for His provision for me in my sweet husband. His perfect provision. Daily I am challenged as I watch Andy's dear and tender heart serve me; putting my needs, wants and desires above his own. Sacrificing himself for me. He is the most kind and generous man I know. His grace abounds toward me. His forgiveness quick and complete. Is it just me or does this sound like someone else I know? Someone who suffered not only an excruciating road to His death but the worst pain of all, separation from the fellowship of His Father...all because of His love for me. Yes, Jesus Himself is truly my perfect provision. But how very wonderful of Him to give me a husband who looks and loves so much like Him. So, as I stand on the cusp of completing this 7th year I have a sense of relief. A renewed appreciation. A grateful heart that I not only love Andy far more today than I did seven years ago but I also really like him. I'm left not at all feeling an itch but on the contrary feeling very, very rich.

Fun Finds

The past week or so we have been working on extinguishing some behaviors in our 5 yr. old son. This is the little guy who remains virtually unmoved by just about any consequence we implement. But set up a reward system and the little fellow comes alive. His motivation soars. So, today when I picked him up from school and learned that he'd had a successful day in the particular behavior, I knew just the reward! You see on Saturday we had not only the cutest birthday cake but the most delicious by far. Thanks to my friend, Crystal! It came from Society Bakery and it was fantastic. I'd been wishing all week I'd indulged in another piece at the party but decided today was my chance for a do-over. :) Not to mention the fact that I knew my son would be over the moon about my choice. We made our way to the bakery in hopes of finding some cupcakes. Who knew that Society was voted #1 cupcake in Dallas (now I know why) AND is nationally recognized?! My little guy very carefully chose the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cupcake (oh, yeah, and it had to be the very one he pointed to...not just ANY PBCC Cupcake on the tray! :)):



I chose this delicate Strawberry with amazing cream cheese icing:


After our cupcakes were neatly boxed up we scouted out the perfect spot to enjoy our deliciousness together! Little guy picked a GREAT corner with a sofa and two chairs just his size arranged perfectly around a coffee table. This quaint little corner happened to be in a quaint little sandwich shop adjoining the bakery. I've passed this place a thousand times and always wondered what The Corner Market was like. It is the cutest sandwich shop/deli with a flower shop tucked in the back to boot! It reminds me of a place where your sandwich would be wrapped up in brown paper and tied with twine. They had a wide variety of unique bottled sodas, chips and one case with pasta salads and such; another filled with truffles and chocolates. They also serve breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays! And did I mention the flower shop in the back?! I saw the most vibrant, happy bouquets being carried out of there in those 30minutes of enjoying with my little guy. We laughed and talked about his day and even danced while we devoured the cakes. That icing on the PBCC cake...oh my! It was like peanut butter fudge with chocolate chips...super decadent but so worth it. The only thing sweeter was seeing my son's spirit soar and his tank being filled up by our time together celebrating his success(he's my quality time guy). And in the process we stumbled upon a fabulous trio of fun finds!

I'm Back!!!

Well, I didn't officially "go" anywhere but I've just not posted anything in a while. I actually started a couple of posts but for whatever reason never put them up. Now they seem like old news! So, onto more current things I suppose.

I went a little crazy in the kitchen today. My mother in law has passed on stacks of Bon Appetit, Cooking Light and Southern Living to me over the past few weeks and in my free time I've been perusing them and having visions of cooking grandeur. Then Aimee K. posted this blog post on Facebook and it fueled my kitchen fire even more. I LOVE all the ideas for healthy snacks/meals to have on hand. We already do a few of them but today I prepared plates of fresh veggies, cut up lots of fruit and made some homemade trail mix to have ready to grab when someone, namely ME, comes into the kitchen looking for something to munch on. I put the veggies on a pretty plate and the fruit in my favorite pink bowls. I always enjoy my food more when it's presented in an attractive way. It actually took me back to being at my grandmother's house when I was a little girl. She always had, in her fridge, carrot sticks and celery sticks in darling little jelly jars filled with water to keep them crisp. One time my sister who HATES celery accidentally drank the glass of celery water!! Needless to say, it did not help the celery cause for her!

I also cooked up 3lb. of ground beef to freeze for later, put tomorrow's dinner in the crockpot and tried quinoa in my rice steamer for tonight's dinner (it worked beautifully, by the way!). Oh, yeah, and all the activity in the kitchen today was sparked because I wanted to make these:

Hubs and both kiddos LOVE "bars" and I spend loads of money at the grocery store on Odwalla, Luna and Clif bars. I only buy them when they are on sale but "on sale" is still $1 a piece. In my brilliance, I thought I'd make these today and see if they will be an acceptable substitute. But guess what? My brilliance went out the window when I forgot one of the ingredients at the store. They will have to wait until later in the week. But I do have them to thank for the productivity today! :) And now, I feel certain my kitchen will go dormant again for another couple of weeks until a fresh wave of motivation comes my way. My philosophy is you gotta ride the wave while it soars and hope the next returns sooner than the last.

Code Yellow

Y'all know that I LOVE Target. Love the selection of stationery, home organizing stuff, seasonal items, clothes, accessories, books, toys, etc. You know those little games where they ask you if you had to shop at only one store forever what would it be? Hands down my answer would be Target. Especially since having kiddos, I think I get most everything there from groceries to outfitting the whole family at times. I seriously think we could live on only what we can get there. BUT that's not why I'm loving Target today. I actually had the biggest scare of my life there this week...I lost my child. And when I say lost, I mean L-O-S-T. LONG story as to how it all happened but let's just say there were lots of tears shed and not just by the 5yr. old involved! However, I was MOST impressed with how Target handled the situation. It was like watching a well rehearsed re-con operation in action. After searching for several minutes on my own and as panic started setting in, I told an employee I could not find my son. She promptly spoke into her walkie talkie saying, "Code Yellow, Code Yellow, Code Yellow". Immediately droves of red shirted employees came pouring out of the "employees only" areas to block the exit doors and comb the store inside and OUT for my child. Even as I type I tear up all over again. It was truly the scariest 10 minutes of my life. My mind was going all sorts of places and all I kept thinking is, "My son could truly be gone. GONE!". I know, a bit irrational but in the situation it seemed a real possibility. After what seemed like an eternity, but was actually only a few minutes, my sobbing son was escorted to me by three Target employees as another employee waited with me the whole time making sure I was ok. Needless to say, I've never been more thrilled to see my child! There were lots of hugs and a quick exit to get ourselves back together. But once I regained some composure I was struck with how well they handled the situation. So the moral of the story is...if you're gonna lose your child, Target is the place to do it! Just kidding. :) Actually, it's to say THANK YOU Target for your careful planning and preparation for such situations...yet another reason to love you even more!

A Displaced Mouse?

Today I was having one of those days where I just longed for a simple life. A slower life. A life where my son doesn't ask me where "ALL these cars" are going. A place where my kids can play outside for hours without worrying that a "predator" might drive down my street looking for his next victim. A place where my son can roam and explore with the neighborhood kids without me fearing for his safety if I don't know his exact whereabouts. A house with a porch that we actually sit on and hear the sounds of crickets and look at the stars on Summer nights and maybe even catch a few lightning bugs. Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoy the conveniences, options, opportunities, people and variety of living in a big city. But deep down in my heart I'm a small town girl. I find myself dreaming a lot lately of living in a quiet town with quaint shops, friendly people who are looking out for each other, fewer choices, less busyness surrounding me, neighbors that are truly my community. I believe my family can attain a slower, simpler life in the midst of the busy-ness that swirls about us but it is a challenge; like constantly swimming upstream, going against the grain. And it makes me wonder how we are unknowingly being swept away by the current of that stream. Swept into thinking certain things are "normal" that aren't really normal at all, certain standards erroding and slowly escaping us without us even knowing it. So far we've been able to do a fairly good job of keeping it simple but with ever broadening circles I only see that becoming increasingly difficult to protect as time goes on. I can't help but identify with the little Country Mouse in Aesop's fable wanting to scurry back to his simple life. Yet on I go in the city not feeling much like a City Mouse at all but often feeling a little like a displaced one.

A New Favorite

Last night my sweet husband not only endured but actually suggested that we watch Julie and Julia. He's heard me say several times that I'd like to see it. So clearly the recommendation had everything to do with him wanting to serve ME. I can't really see him thinking about how much HE'd like to see that movie! The thought of that actually makes me laugh out loud right this very minute. So where was I, anyway, when it was at the theater?! I can't remember exactly when it came out but I remember wanting to see it then. And I remember saying about 1,000 more times that I wanted to see it. I found it to be surprising and delightful and sweet and warm and the perfect movie for my not so perfect mood last night. And I must confess that today when I was getting ahead on my cooking for the week I put on my cutest apron and had to talk myself out of going to put on my pearls! :)

Incentive

Although I absolutely love and am energized by completing small decorative projects around the house, my motivation often comes in waves. And for whatever reason, I have not been terribly motivated lately. But, alas, I started thinking of a couple organizational additions I'd like to add and along the way found some glimmers of motivation for a few dangling ended projects that need to be completed. So, as extra motivation I decided I cannot purchase the fun, new additions until I complete the few things still lingering on my list. And what do you know, that sparked a wave of motivation! :) These are the things I'd like to add:

It's a magnetic board that I'd hang in my laundry room which is also where we walk in from the garage, pass through to get to the office AND to the restroom that most guests use when visiting our home. I will put invitations, prized school work, etc. on it.

This, I will hang in the office for those magazines and prayer letters and other things that I can't always stop right then and read when sorting the mail. Do y'all think the fact that it has no sides would be annoying? I LOVE the wrought iron but wonder about the missing sides. Anyway, even if not THIS one, something along the same lines is a must.

Maybe I'll post pics of the completed projects as an EXTRA incentive to get them done and get these things ordered! By the way, they are both from Ballard Designs...one of my absolute favorites for home decor and organizing.

A Tank Filler

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! For some reason, I've never really been over the moon about Valentine's Day. It's not that I DON'T like it, I'm just pretty neutral about it I suppose. I do, however, enjoy ANY reason to celebrate and make a day extra special! Because of that it has been fun, as a wife, to have a reason to celebrate. And being a mom has added a new dimension that allows for the fun, lighthearted celebrating that I like vs. the expectation of "mushy love" on Valentine's Day! :)

Nonetheless, none of that is really my point. Today was a really good day IS my point! Not because it was Valentine's Day per se but because it was filled with some of my favorite things. The morning started off with Andy distributing his little V-day trinkets to the kiddos. Little girl was beside herself that Daddy got her jewelry (plastic heart necklace w/matching bracelet)! She insisted on leaving it on for church, which afforded great worship and a thought provoking message on Biblical love (more on this later). Upon leaving church we headed for one of our favorite brunch places that is reserved for semi-special occasions. After brunch Little buddy had a friend over to play and then I took them to see a production of the following:


It was a blast to watch two little boys on the edge of their seats, completely captivated by the actors and constantly asking, "Are they REAL pirates?!". We came home for some more playing since our little friend's mommy was in the hospital having just given birth to her 3rd little boy! As I baked treats and assembled goody bags for tomorrow's school Valentine Party (delayed b/c of snow) I absolutely delighted in, not only what I was doing, but also in hearing them giggle and play while Andy watched the olympics and baby girl napped. As dinner time rolled around we decided to make a quick, easy but delicious dinner (thanks to Sprout's amazing sale items this week! check out their ad here). Steak, crab legs, baked potatoes and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert! It was just a fun time together at the table as we ate and exchanged cards. Andy had a surprise for me from James Avery...a new charm for my charm bracelet and all the charms that used to be "loose" now affixed to my bracelet. I'm most impressed that he got all that out of my jewelry box without me noticing. :)

So, for a girl who's been running pretty low lately, today was a much needed tank filler. I'm still not overflowing but some definite filling today. And maybe that's what Valentine's Day is all about anyway and not my perception of all that "mushy love stuff" (Can anybody name that movie?!).

One of Those Weeks

So, have you ever had one of those weeks where the only thing you know to say about it is, "I'm sure glad it's over!"? This past week has been one of those for me. The kind where by Tuesday it feels like there's been enough "week" in the past 36hrs. to be Friday AT LEAST! I honestly remember thinking that this Tuesday...thinking, "What day is it? ONLY Tuesday?!". I've just been off kilter; more days than one oversleeping, feeling a step or two behind all day. The kind of days where I've gotten out of the house realizing I had the wrong shoes on or put mascara only on one eye, had the wrong lid on my coffee cup (because who can make it through a week like this WITHOUT coffee?!) so it ended up all over the front of my shirt. And of course because I'm running just a few minutes behind, there's no time to run back in and change. Oh, and even if I did, what would I wear since the laundry is piled high?! I honestly think I'll chuckle about it later but it's still a little too fresh to be funny just yet. :)

With all that said, I'm so looking forward to church this morning and looking forward to a fresh start on the next 7 days (Lord willing!). I'm lifting my coffee mug up (hopefully not spilling it today) and saying, "Here's to a NEW week!!".

Thursday Nights

Random tidbit: I LOVE Thursday nights!! For as long as I can remember I have loved Thursday nights. In high school it was the eve of Friday. Fridays filled with Pep-Rallies, Spirit Days, Football games and Sock Hops. Then in college, it was still the most fun night of the week. A typical Thursday night was filled w/Campus Crusade activities followed by everyone gathering at Gatti's or going country dancing until wee hours in the morning. And come to think of it, post college looked much the same for 6 or 7 years as I worked w/CCC and college students. Different places, different people but still the fun of gathering with good friends having loads of fun. And have you noticed that Thursday nights have historically been a great TV night?! As far back as The Cosby Show, skipping quite a few years to ER...and wasn't Survivor on Thursday nights in the early days?! Now, it's Grey's Anatomy that I look forward to. There's something about the week winding down that gives me a big sigh on Thursday night. So, with one kiddo down and the sound of the garage door ushering in the other...I better run. I have some Grey's to watch in a while!

A Little Piece of Happy

What started out as a joke has turned out to be a favorite little happy for me. Andy makes fun of Taylor Swift everytime she comes on the radio, especially when he hears Fifteen. He has his own rendition of it that is pretty funny...and might make a few dogs start to howl (don't tell him I said that part!!). So, at Christmas I had to chuckle when I found her Fearless CD sneakily slipped into my stocking.


A few days later, I opened it and popped it into the CD player in the car and that is what I listened to everyday driving back and forth to see my mom. Who knew that my new favorite song would come out of it? There's no big meaning as to why I like it so much, it was just a little piece of happy for me during those couple of weeks. Take a listen and see what you think.

Perspective

Two weeks ago today the most pressing thing on my mind was what to do with my crazy, overgrown HAIR!! Y'all knew I wouldn't make it very long without bringing it up.;) I couldn't wait to post a few hairstyles and get everyone's vote on their favorite.

So, when my dad called that Monday afternoon to say he had taken my mom to the ER with a "bad headache", I decided to throw my overpriced Hairstyles of the Stars magazine into my bag (along with a few other "essentials") because who has time to waste during those eternal wait times in the ER?!

Once I arrived and discovered my mom was serious enough to bypass the FOUR hour wait I thought I might not need my magazine after all. And then when I heard the word "brain aneurysm" it was as if the world came to a screeching halt in that instant. Up to this point I'd never heard an aneurysm story that ended well. I'm not even sure what I want to say about all of that but I will say that 5 days in ICU with my mom, 6 more in a closely monitored room, the untimely death of a close friend of my sister's, the possibility of my dad receiving lungs from that same friend AND my sister in law's father passing away has a way of changing one's perspective.

I'm not even sure all that has had time to sink in yet. But there are a few things I DO know:

I'm thankful my mom is alive and has her spunk in tact!

The power of prayer is so very real.

I'm amazed at how God orchestrates every single detail of life to care for His own.

He truly is the GOOD Shepherd...even in circumstances that aren't "good".

His presence is so very real.

Every day of our lives is written before one came to be...we will not live one more or one less than He intends.

Each of those days He HAS given us should be celebrated and lived to the fullest.

I believe even more that God is God and He controls it ALL, even when I THINK I am in control, it's just an illusion. I couldn't be more relieved.

I'm blown away by the love and support of fellow believers and feel so loved by HIM through those people.

Incredibly thankful for a family who loves each other and works WITH each other.

Amazed to look back over the years and see all that He has done to keep this family in tact...makes me appreciate the previous thought even more.

I believe in miracles.

And I'm not as young as I used to be!!! :) Pulling all nighters, eating junk when I was able to eat at all, driving back and forth at all hours of the day and night, and drinking endless amounts of coffee and Diet Dr. Pepper to keep my eyelids open does not fare well with this body anymore! ;) I think I need a week at the spa to recover...do you think I can convince my husband?!

So, I do not know when I will get to the point that my hair doesn't seem so trivial anymore but I can guarantee, you all will be the first to know! :)

A New Year...A New Word

Ok, so I have to confess, I've never really liked New Year's resolutions. They sort of rub me the wrong way. They just don't quite fit for me. I think it's because resolutions feel a bit confining. And they have a twinge of feeling like rules. With a sliver (or maybe a tad more) ;) of a rebellious streak in me, creating a rule for myself often makes me want to break it...or have a bad attitude while carrying it out! A little odd since I'm such a rule follower if put in place by someone else! (I'm sure there's some deep psychological meaning to all of that but that's not the point, now, is it?!).

So a few years ago, in lieu of resolutions, I decided I'd come up with a word for the year instead. (I found out later that lots of people do this!) I begin praying around Christmas each year that God would bring to mind my "word of the year". It has been amazing to see how those years have lived up to their word.

The first year it was faithfulness. That year I really focused on and enjoyed the fruit of being faithful in spending time with the Lord as well as being faithful in the little things of life. The following year He brought to mind one that wasn't so fun...repentance. Blech! Yet that year truly was one of changing the course and turning from some sinful patterns that were too big in my life. The next was anticipation. Little did I know at the time this would be the year I'd become pregnant with Little Miss and spend much of that year excitedly anticipating her arrival. And then there was last year. Peace...seek it, pursue it and sit in it no matter the cost. Once again God knew what I'd need to set my sights on in 2009. That peace was often threatened by the circumstances of life...Drew's health issues, Andy's job search and my dad's impending transplant. But as I reflect back on the year I really do see how He brought much peace in the midst of it all. It did not come easy at times. Often I had to fight for it more than I wanted to and on occasion I didn't fight for it at all. Yet in His grace he afforded it to me anyway.

And now here we are on the first day of 2010 and it's time for a new word! I've been pondering it the past couple of weeks and had a few different ones bouncing around in my head yet one keeps pushing it's way to the forefront more than the others. I've found myself saying, "Lord, this can't be the word you want for me!". Some of the competitors have been discipline, focus and hard work. But do you know what the word is?!? It's ENJOY!!!

I need to work on enjoying! Now, that's a word I like! Yet, believe it or not, it's a challenge for me. I can get in such a rut of keeping my "nose to the grindstone" or working hard or finding ways to better myself or things in my home that need improving or learning new parenting skills or 10 steps to being the perfect wife that I often forget just to enjoy. So, this year I want to do something each day that is for pure enjoyment...as simple as watching a tv show or taking a long bath or flipping through a magazine. And on a bigger scale I want to enjoy life more, enjoy the people I love, try new things (like this blog!)and actually take the time to think about what it is that brings me joy. Somehow I often think that God values hard work more than enjoyment. But I think I've missed the mark on this one. Nothing thrills my heart more than watching my kids laugh and play their little hearts out! God has given us many things simply for our enjoyment and I can't help but think that his heart must feel much like mine when He sees me doing just that.